Has Mike Shanahan Landed?

Deck

Former Denver Broncos coach Mike Shanahan was among the most tenured NFL head coaches when he was fired after the 2008 season---after his team failed to win any of its final three games to secure a playoff berth. At the time, he admitted he still wanted to coach, and it looks like he has finally found a home.
The Denver Post cites two NFL sources who say Shanahan will head to the nation's capital to coach the Washington Redskins. The Redskins are a woeful 4-9 with three games to play. They beat the Broncos in an embarrassing loss on November 15, but in general, they're terrible and need a new direction.
Team owner Dan Snyder, known for showering money on players to little or no avail, began that process by hiring Bruce Allen as a new general manager on Thursday (via ESPN).
The Post reports that Shanahan was approached about a recent opening with the Buffalo Bills and that Allen would have been part of the management team there. The two have a history: They both know what it's like to work for Oakland Raiders owner Al Davis. Shanahan was fired by Davis four games into the 1989 season, and Allen worked in the Raiders' front office from 1995-2003. Allen also helped Shanahan's son, Kyle, get his first assistant-coaching job in Tampa Bay in 2004-05.
Beyond a superficial interest in where Shanahan ends up next season, Broncos fans should care about Shanahan finding a job, especially one that is likely to pay him a boatload of money. When Broncos owner Pat Bowlen fired Shanahan last winter, Shanahan was guaranteed nearly $21 million over three years. If Shanahan lands in Washington, any salary he receives would offset what the Broncos still owe him, which would lead to more money for Denver to pursue players and coaches.

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Johnson & Wales students, all baking and pastry arts majors, competed in the Gingerbread Takeover from December 6–8. Final judging took place on Thursday in the lobby of the Sheraton Downtown Denver hotel. All photos by Sarah Boyum

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The American Society of Interior Designers' (ASID) Colorado Chapter decorated the Governor's Residence for the holidays. Holiday tours, free and open to the public, will take place December 8-11 and December 15-18 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. All photos by Sarah Boyum